Shoppers were stunned when they spotted a mountain lion relaxing outside a doorway in a mall.

The animal, also known as a cougar, was caught on camera wandering through the Jordan Commons centre, in Sandy, Salt Lake City, in Utah, on Friday.

Leesha Francis, who works in an office in the mall, said she saw the animal outside the Ruby River steakhouse: "I was scared. He was kind of just sitting in this little cove in the stairwell of the restaurant right there."

Police fired one shot at the big cat - using what bystanders said was a shotgun - but the animal ran away.

Wildlife officers nearby later tranquilised the cougar and police say the animal was in good health and expected to be released later.